"Little monk, do you believe me if I say it wasn't on purpose?"

Rubbing his forehead, Qi Xiu looked helplessly at the little monk in front of him, who was wolfing down several boxes of flaky pastries.

Previously, when demons led by a bamboo stick insect suddenly descended, he had put the little monk into a Spirit Pill pouch to protect him. However, after the incident was resolved, he forgot all about the little monk, and by the time he finished his retreat and remembered, more than a month had passed.

The little monk's Cultivation was not high, having just achieved the Dao-Entering Realm. Without food or water, he had persevered for over a month. By the time Qi Xiu let him out, he was gaunt, emaciated, and hanging by a thread; a few more days, and he would likely have starved to death.

Out of deep remorse, Qi Xiu quickly bought him some food. He also combed through the monk's meridians with his own True Essence of Dragon and Tiger, barely pulling him back from death's door.

"No harm done, no harm done. The benefactor harbors the world in his heart and disperses talismans to save all... This monk, this monk—BURP—simply endured a few days of hunger, it's nothing serious, nothing serious at all."

Six boxes, nearly four or five pounds of pastries, disappeared into the little monk's stomach in no time. Rushing his meal, he couldn't stop burping as he spoke. Clearly, he had eaten a bit too much.

"HEHEHE, with the little master's generous heart, Qi Xiu can rest assured. How about it, are you full now? If it's not enough, I'll go buy you some more."

Smiling, Qi Xiu watched the little monk continuously rubbing his belly. With a flick of his fingertips, a ball of clear water floated over.

"I'm full, I'm full. I can't eat anymore."

Cradling the clear water with both hands, the little monk gulped it down eagerly. His slightly swollen belly visibly distended a bit more.

"Now that you are full, I shall take you back. After more than a month, I imagine your master and elders must be frantic with worry."

It was in Meitan Prefecture that Qi Xiu had encountered this little monk. At that time, the little master was holding a jade-colored discipline blade, escorting over a hundred mountain villagers to a nearby county city. However, halfway there, they were intercepted by several Initiate Realm demons. Although the little monk was also a Dao-Entering Realm cultivator, his foundation was still shallow. He might have had a chance against one Initiate Realm demon, but facing multiple enemies, he was somewhat outmatched. He was quickly defeated by the demons. Had Qi Xiu not arrived in time, both the little monk and those hundred-odd villagers would have ended up in the bellies of those demons.

"This monk... this monk no longer has a master. Half a month ago, a group of Great Demons crossed the mountains, wanting to devour all the people of Jiyuan County. My master and several Elders from our temple went to help Jiyuan County's defending army. After that, they never returned... Now, I am the only one left in the entire temple."

His tone was low, and the little monk's eyes reddened slightly. The name of his temple was Qingshan Temple. It was a small temple with only about a dozen cultivators. Apart from the abbot, everyone else was at the Dao-Entering Realm. When they had gone to assist Jiyuan County previously, he had wanted to go as well, but the abbot, his master, ordered him to stay behind and guard the temple, not to wander off. Little did he know that their parting that day would be their last.

Jiyuan County…

Hearing this place mentioned, Qi Xiu's expression shifted slightly. He had been to that county city; the once-large city was now completely destroyed. The whole city had turned into a desolate wasteland, a scene of utter devastation, with blood staining the ground everywhere. The stench of death enveloped the entire county city, forming dark clouds that lingered overhead, refusing to disperse. It was like a human purgatory.

Lately, the number of demons erupting from Divine Sorrow Ridge had clearly increased. Across the six prefectures, the pressure on the various county cities had surged. There had already been many instances of county cities being breached by Great Demons, their entire populations falling into the mouths of demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators.

"What are your plans for the future?"

Looking at the little monk before him, whose appearance and demeanor still held a touch of childishness, Qi Xiu's gaze softened. This little monk had excellent Aptitude; barely sixteen, he had already reached the Dao-Entering Realm—a promising seedling for cultivation. And the fact that Qingshan Temple's monks went to aid Jiyuan County, yet specifically left the little monk behind, showed they knew that with his Aptitude, he would achieve greater heights one day. If the defense of the city failed, this child was to be the continuation of Qingshan Temple's legacy.

"To carry on the dying wishes of my master and uncles. Eliminate demons and defend the Dao! Support the human world!"

Slowly raising his head, the little monk's eyes were filled with determination, a captivating spiritual light shining within his pupils. Mysteriously, behind his head, an extremely faint golden halo appeared.

Merit Golden Light? A child's pure heart?

Seeing the Virtue Golden Wheel behind the little monk's head, Qi Xiu was startled. Before these chaotic times, apart from himself—an anomaly with his proficiency Divine Marvel—the bestowal of Human Path Merit had always been based on intention, not deeds. A truly compassionate person, even if they saved only one life, could have the power of merit bestowed upon them. But those who performed compassionate acts with ulterior motives, even if they saved thousands, would scarcely earn the power of merit. This little monk was young, his Cultivation shallow, yet the power of merit accumulated on him had already manifested as a Virtue Golden Wheel. This was enough to show that he possessed a truly compassionate heart. Otherwise, it would be impossible for someone so young to have such a profound foundation of merit.

It seems our encounter is the result of our respective destinies.

With a sense of understanding in his heart, Qi Xiu chuckled and patted the little monk on the shoulder. He then took out a thick stack of Cloud Seal Talismans: Suppression Talisman, Five Thunder Talisman, Medicine Talisman, Black Water Talisman… and even five Sword Gourd Talismans.

He stuffed these impressively powerful Talisman Scripts to the little monk. Seeing the other party frantically reluctant to accept, Qi Xiu spoke softly, "In these chaotic times, you possess a compassionate heart but lack the power to vanquish demons. Since that's the case, I shall lend you a helping hand. If I ever encounter difficulty in the future, you can come and help me then. Surely, you don't want to see those common folk persecuted by demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators, while you yourself are powerless to save them?"

At Qi Xiu's words, the little monk's refusal faltered. Hesitation flickered across his face. After much contemplation, the little monk slowly lifted his head.

"Then, then please, benefactor, accept this as well. Otherwise, this monk absolutely cannot accept your generous gifts for nothing."

From his robes, he took out a rather old, yellowed ancient book, its surface showing traces of insect damage. With a solemn expression, the little monk held it with both hands and presented it.

Qi Xiu glanced down. On the yellowed, wrinkled cover, five large characters were written in ancient seal script:

Vajra Sutra

This…

Looking at the Buddhist scripture the little monk was offering so earnestly, Qi Xiu touched the Golden Cry Jade Beads on his wrist. In this world, the Buddha Sect had five great introductory classics, and this Vajra Sutra was one of them. It was a scripture that almost every Buddha Sect temple possessed.

"Alright, I'll accept it."

Seeing that it was nothing too valuable, Qi Xiu nodded and accepted it. He then took out several hundred Spirit Pills from his Spirit Pill pouch. These were all pills he had concocted back when he was in the Dao-Entering Realm. After he had cultivated his Hunyuan Apertures, these Spirit Pills became useless to him and had been gathering dust in the Spirit Pill pouch ever since. Now was a good time to give them all to this little monk. Putting things to good use was not wasteful.

"This monk will remember the benefactor's gift. Should you have any need in the future, this monk will certainly do his utmost." Clasping his hands together, the little monk bowed deeply to Qi Xiu, then slowly turned and, with firm, steady steps, walked towards the distance.

Folding his sleeves, Qi Xiu watched the little monk's retreating figure. He tilted his head, then suddenly remembered something and called out, "Little Master, I still don't know your Dharma name."

Hearing his voice, the little monk paused, turned, and softly said to Qi Xiu, "This humble monk's Dharma name is... Rosh."

Quietly watching the little monk's figure gradually disappear into the mountains and wilderness, Qi Xiu slowly fiddled with the Golden Cry Jade Beads on his hand. After a long moment, he murmured softly to himself, Rosh... Vajra King...

「In the year 1757 of the Great Xuan Calendar, a heavy snow fell.」

In the blink of an eye, the war in Dianchuan Province had already been ongoing for a year. The demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains used Divine Sorrow Ridge as an entry point, invading incessantly. And the three hundred and sixty contingents of demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators that had previously flooded into Dianchuan Province also took this opportunity to emerge in full force. The battle between the province's Human Cultivators and the demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators grew increasingly intense.

The battlefield also expanded from the original six prefectures to eight, then ten, then twelve… As of now, nearly half of Dianchuan Province's territory had thoroughly become a warzone.

In this increasingly fierce and brutal slaughter, the abruptly rising Wu Family's Demon Suppression Army gradually became the main force resisting the demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators. And due to the excellent benefits and clear system of rewards and punishments within the Demon-suppressing Army, as well as the security provided by operating in large formations, besides its original forces, a great number of Loose Cultivators, as well as some Minor Sects and families, joined the ranks of the Demon-suppressing Army. This caused the numbers of this army, which had appeared out of nowhere, to swell repeatedly. From an initial force of less than 100,000, it had grown into a colossal army nearly 400,000 strong.

However, regarding the size of this military force, which now posed a serious threat to their own status, both the County Yamen and the Gao Family remained willfully blind, neither inquiring nor commenting, maintaining a profound silence.

In response to this phenomenon, many perceptive individuals faintly guessed the root of the Gao Family's and the County Yamen's attitude. For a time, some medium-sized Sect Aristocracies also began to covertly instruct their Disciples to join the Demon-suppressing Army. Even if they didn't join, they were to maintain good relations with this ascendant military power.

This was a historical tide carrying the properties of transformation. If one could ride this wave, there might be an earth-shattering, immense fortune awaiting ahead.

Under the crushing advance of the increasingly powerful Demon-suppressing Army, the offensive of the demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators invading Dianchuan Province slowed considerably. They even began to reclaim lost territory.

For a moment, many people believed this was the turning point of the invasion. The incursion of the demons and Demonic Evil Cultivators would, from this moment, begin to decline.

But just as the province's Human Cultivators were beginning to feel a surge in morale, a piece of bombshell news exploded.

From the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, the youngest son of Fuyao Great Saint, while on an inspection tour in Dianchuan Province, was tragically murdered. His severed head was hung from the summit of Mingyue Mountain of Dianchuan as a warning to others.

Once this news spread, the entire province was shaken.

Great Saint! That was an honorific title bestowed only upon Demon Clan experts who had cultivated to the Primordial Spirit Realm. And Fuyao Great Saint was the patriarch of the Great Roc Clan, one of the Hundred Strong Great Clans in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. His youngest son being killed in Dianchuan, and his head severed and hung on a mountaintop for public display—such an act was a blatant provocation against this Primordial Spirit Boss!

Instantly, all Human Cultivators realized that the sky, which had just begun to clear, was likely to darken again very soon. A terrifyingly violent storm was about to sweep across the entire Dianchuan Province!

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